Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Jimmy Eat World, Quicksand, Helmet, Sunny Day Real Estate, The Get Up Kids, Bouncing Souls, MC5, Iggy & The Stooges, Silver Sun Pickups, Taking Back Sunday, Texas Is The Reason, Mineral, Alkaline Trio, Rise Against, Gorilla Biscuits, Rage Against The Machine, Bloc Party, The Hives, Sugarcult, Acceptance, Arctic Monkeys, At The Drive In, Brand New, The Exit, Green Day, The International Noise Conspiracy, The Mars Volta, The Pixies, Queens of the Stone Age, Jawbreaker, Radiohead, Refused, The Strokes, The Subways, The Used, Vaux, The Bronx, The White Stripes
"It’s not often that a new band playing their first show steals it and blows the doors off".
Finally, the thieves of the show, The Hotspots loaded up their three piece on stage, including a massive Mesa Boogie amp that was sure to rumble some eardrums. This was the band’s first ever live show together. Listening to their practice tunes on their myspace page still does not give fair enough warning for what was about to unravel.
Guitarist and front man Kevin, in full rock and roll regalia wearing a Social Distortion t-shirt and bandanna, looked oddly similar to Social D. front man Mike Ness. Bassist “The Broad“, added both beauty and intense bass rhythms to the trio. Scott “The Animal” on drums added the back beat to their powerful, raw rock.
Ripping through their set, you would of had no idea that this was their first ever live show. Even while referring to lyric sheets taped to the floor, Kevin barely missed a beat while delivering raw power chords and intense vocals.
The band as a whole powered through their short set with so much intensity and passion it left everybody begging for more. The crowd was up and rocking the whole time. At the end of their last song, it seemed everybody in the crowd wanted to rush forward and give the band much deserved high fives and thanks. The band, still sweaty and barely off the stage jumped off the stage and soaked up the adoration graciously and with smiles the whole time.
Thoroughly rocked, sweaty, and beat from a full night of shooting 5 bands in a row, I did my part and thanked the band for an incredible performance. Lead singer Kevin was humble and very appreciative, leaving a lasting impression that would make me definitely check them out again.
I headed off into the West Philadelphia night, ears ringing and smiling the whole way home. It was a great night, for local music and for this photographer. The Hotspots totally hit the spot.
Come join us Friday May 15th @ 9:00 PM @ Club Risque! All Out Friday Night featuring Dive, Even The Res, and Spy The Thinker - $10 gets you into the show upstairs and the gentleman's club downstairs. For updates check www.myspace.com/risquelive.
Yes it was an awesome show, you guys really rocked the house! thank you again for inviting us to play, we will be sure to try and get you guys on a bill next time we land a show. Later!
-Goodyear
P.S. "Do or Die" track? The new song on the CD was supposed to be "Sweet Life". Did the wrong song show up on the CD we gave you? If so, we're sorry!
Hey dudes, what's up? Just got a call from Andrew at Heyday and they booked us to play with you guys at North Star Bar on Saturday, November 1st! Many thanks for recommending us, you are the best :-) Later!
